Ancient Quotes

Say not always what you know, but always know what you say.

To do nothing evil is good; to wish nothing evil is better.

Claudius 10 BC ~ 54 AD, Roman Leader

Ancient Quotes

Acquaintance lessens fame.

No one is free who does not lord over himself.

No one is more miserable than the person who wills everything and can do nothing.

Claudius 10 BC - 54 AD, Roman Leader

History Trivia

On July 29, 1588 the English defeated the Spanish Armada in the Battle of Gravelines.

History Trivia

On July 28th, 1540 King Henry VIII's chief minister, Thomas Cromwell, was executed. The same day, Henry married his fifth wife, Catherine Howard.

Rune Cast

Rune For Today: Ansuz
Ansuz represents mankind's spiritual connection to God and the universe. It is often referred to as the "God Rune." This Rune embodies reason, truth and justice. It denotes the coming of knowledge and true counsel from a higher authority.

Ancient Quotes

The laws of nature are but the mathematical thoughts of God.

Euclid 325 BC - 265 BC Egyptian mathematician

History Trivia

On July 26 0326 Constantine refused to carry out the traditional pagan sacrifices. In 1394 Charles VI of France issued a decree for the general expulsion of Jews from France and in 1564 Maximillian II became emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

Discussion Items for Book Clubs

Are you familiar with the Ninth century timeline? If not, what prompted you to read the book?

Did the author adequately capture the timeframe for you to visualize the actual locations referenced in the story? If not, what was missing?

Were you comfortable with the verbiage? If not, what did you find difficult? Did you find the language easier to read as the story developed? Did the language help transport you back to the Ninth century? If so, were you able to relate to the characters as products of Ninth Century mores and not judge them according to Twenty-first Century standards?

Did you find the character list and map helpful? How many times did you refer to the list of characters before you were comfortable with the names and relationships?
Who was your favorite character? Why? How does your character’s development change over the course of the story? Does your character undergo behavioral change(s)? If so, are you happy with the new persona? Does your favorite character exhibit similar traits to your own personality? How?

How do you feel about the Religious dilemma which plagued the pagan characters throughout the story? Do you understand the depth of the internal conflict? How would you react if you were forced to renounce the deity that you worshipped? Would you readily accept baptism? Would you continue to worship your divine being in secret? Would you feel guilty each time you attended a prayer service and received the sacraments?

How do you relate to the Soothsayer / Oracle references? Have there really been many changes since pagan times concerning superstitious beliefs and omens? Do you read your daily horoscope? Does Friday the 13th, walking under a ladder and having a black cat cross your path send a chill up your spine? Are we so different from our ancestors?

How do you feel about the treachery and intrigue which surrounded the royal court? How do you think the violence of the times affected the King’s decisions? How do you feel about war and conquest? Are we different today? Have we learned from our mistakes?

Was the novel a page turner? Did you have trouble putting the book down? What were your favorite storylines? Were you disappointed with the way the story ended? Are you looking forward to reading the sequel?

Would you contact the author to express your views? If so, visit the author’s webpage for email instructions.

Ancient Quotes

One good turn deserves another.

What power has law where only money rules.

You see a louse on someone else, but not a tick on yourself.

Gaius Petronius Arbiter 27-66 A.D, Emperor Nero's advisor

Omaha Book Club - July 21, 2010

Thanks to Dana, Kristin, Deb, Ellie and Teresa for a fun evening and for your interest in "The Briton and the Dane." Thanks too for the great surprise with British food and a bottle of Mead!


Photos are posted on the In the News Tab at www.maryannbernal.com

Ancient Quotes

It is easier to do many things than to do one thing continuously for a long time.

Our minds are like our stomachs; they are whetted by the change of their food, and variety supplies both with fresh appetites.

The pretended admission of a fault on our part creates an excellent impression.

We excuse our sloth under the pretext of difficulty.

We must form our minds by reading deep rather than wide.

Marcus Fabius Quintilian (35 - 90) Roman orator

AncientQuotes

Courage is of no value unless accompanied by justice; yet if all men became just, there would be no need for courage.

If all men were just, there would be no need for valor.

If I have done any deed worthy of remembrance, that deed will be my monument. If not, no monument can preserve my memory.

It is not the places that grace men, but men the places

It isn't positions which lend distinction, but men who enhance positions.


Agesilaus the Second 443 - 359 BC, King of Sparta 401-360 BC

History Trivia

On July 19 1525 the Catholic princes of Germany formed the Dessau League to fight against the Reformation and in 1553 fifteen-year-old Lady Jane Grey was deposed as Queen of England after claiming the crown for nine days. Mary, the daughter of King Henry VIII, was proclaimed Queen.

History Trivia

On July 18 0064 the Great Fire of Rome began and in 1536 the authority of the pope was declared void in England.

History Trivia

On July 17 1212 The Moslems were crushed in the Spanish crusade and in 1453 France defeated England at Castillon, France, which ended the 100 Years' War.

1600 Anniversary of the end of Roman-Britain

Attention UK Fans:

To commemorate the 1600 anniversary of the end of Roman-Britain, the History Channel UK is airing programs dedicated to the history of Great Britain. Features include Boudicca's Treasures, Henry VIII and revelations in King Arthur's Round Table.

Program schedule: Monday 19 July through Friday July 23rd at 8pm

US Fans: airdate is not available at this time

History Trivia

On July 15 1099 Jerusalem fell to the Crusaders. In 1410 Poles and Lithuanians defeated the Teutonic knights at Tannenburg, Prussia and in 1685 the Duke of Monmouth was executed in Tower Hill in England, after his army was defeated at Sedgemore.

History Trivia

On July 14, 1223, in France, Louis VIII succeeded his father, Philip Augustus. In 1430 Joan of Arc, taken prisoner by the Burgundians in May, was handed over to Pierre Cauchon, the bishop of Beauvais. In 1456 Hungarians defeated the Ottomans at the Battle of Belgrade and in 1536 France and Portugal signed the naval treaty of Lyons, which aligned them against Spain.

Roman Coins in Britain

By Stefano Ambrogi

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - One of the largest hoards of Roman coins ever found in Britain has been unearthed in a field in Somerset, southwest England, by an amateur treasure hunter with a metal detector.

The stash of some 52,000 mostly bronze coins dating from the third century AD was buried in a large, well-preserved pot close to the picturesque town of Frome. It has yet to be valued.

Archaeologists are excited about the discovery because they say it sheds new light on the turbulent time, when Roman Britain suffered barbarian invasions, economic crises and civil wars.

To read the entire article go to:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/08/AR2010070802434.html

History Trivia

On July 12 1096 Crusaders under Peter the Hermit reached Sofia, Bulgaria. There they met their Byzantine escort, which brought them safely the rest of the way to Constantinople and in 1543 England's King Henry VIII married his sixth and last wife, Catherine Parr.

History Trivia

On July 11 1346 Charles IV of Luxembourg was elected Holy Roman Emperor in Germany and in 1533, Henry VIII, who divorced his wife and became head of the church of England, was excommunicated from the Catholic Church by Pope Clement VII.

Ancient Quotes

What is food to one man is bitter poison to others.
Such evil deeds could religion prompt.
Nothing can be created from nothing.
The falling drops at last will wear the stone.
Lucretius (96 BC - 55 BC)

History Trivia

On July 9 0118 Hadrian, Rome's new emperor, made his entry into the city. In 0455 Avitus, the Roman military commander in Gaul, became Emperor of the West and in 1540 England's King Henry VIII had his 6-month-old marriage to his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, annulled.

Paris Trivia

July 8 1951: Paris celebrated 2,000th birthday

Paris, the capital city of France, celebrated turning 2,000 years old. In fact, a few more candles would've technically been required on the birthday cake, as the City of Lights was most likely founded around 250 B.C.

The history of Paris can be traced back to a Gallic tribe known as the Parisii, who sometime around 250 B.C. settled an island (known today as Ile de la Cite) in the Seine River, which runs through present-day Paris. By 52 B.C., Julius Caesar and the Romans had taken over the area, which eventually became Christianized and known as Lutetia, Latin for "midwater dwelling." The settlement later spread to both the left and right banks of the Seine and the name Lutetia was replaced with "Paris." In 987 A.D., Paris became the capital of France. As the city grew, the Left Bank earned a reputation as the intellectual district while the Right Bank became known for business.

Ancient Quotes

Wait for that wisest of all counselors, Time.

Fishes live in the sea, as men do on land: the great ones eat up the little ones.

For famous men have the whole earth as their memorial.

Trees, though they are cut and lopped, grow up again quickly, but if men are destroyed, it is not easy to get them again.
Pericles (490 BC - 429 BC)

History Trivia

On July 6 1483 King Richard III of England was crowned. In 1535 Sir Thomas More was executed in England for treason (reign of Henry VIII) and in 1699 Captain William Kidd, the pirate, was captured in Boston, Massachusetts and deported back to England.

Rune Cast

Rune For Today: Pethro
Mysteries will become known to you. You should be able to see your life's path clearly at this time. Pethro is often thought of as "Gambler's Rune." You are in a lucky period right now. Chance is your ally. Take advantage of it.

Ancient Quotes

Faith is not sure, if you cannot turn love to quarrel; may my enemies obtain a mild mistress.

Let each man pass his days in that wherein his skill is greatest.

Let no one be willing to speak ill of the absent.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Afflicted by love's madness all are blind.

Propertius Sextus (c. 50–16 B.C.), Roman elegist.

Ancient Quotes

Now as of old the gods give men all good things, excepting only those that are baneful and injurious and useless. These, now as of old, are not gifts of the gods: men stumble into them themselves because of their own blindness and folly.

The wrongdoer is more unfortunate than the man wronged.

Democritus 460 BC ~ 370 BC

History Trivia

On July 2 1298 an army under Albert of Austria defeated and killed Adolf of Nassua near Worms, Germany. In 1566 French astrologer, physician and prophet Nostradamus died. In 1625 the Spanish army took Breda, Spain, after nearly a year of siege and in 1644 Lord Cromwell crushed the Royalists at the Battle of Marston Moor near York, England.

History Trivia

On July 1 0096 Vespasian, a Roman Army leader, was hailed as a Roman Emperor by the Egyptian legions. In 1543 England and Scotland signed the peace of Greenwich. In 1596 An English fleet under the Earl of Essex, Lord Howard of Effingham and Francis Vere captured and sacked Cadiz, Spain. In 1690 The French defeated the forces of the Grand Alliance at Fleurus in the Netherlands and in 1798 Napoleon Bonaparte took Alexandria, Egypt.